The day starts at 9.00am - please be at Marlborough Girls’ College and ready to go by 8.50am. Students will need to bring a blue or black biro, pencil etc. They will also need to bring a drink bottle, their morning tea and lunch – no canteen please. The day finishes at 2.45 pm. and arrangement to transport /collect students will need to be in place.

Below are some stories by 3 writers who visited Walnut Ranch.

​I was so bored. I was stuck in the traffic like a fly in a web. I really just wanted to get to Walnut Ranch and see the animals. Then we finally got there. When we arrived I saw a dog gradually walk up to me. He licked me on the hand with his rough, rubbery tongue.When I walked through the gate I saw a huge, light grey horse as big as an elephant. His name was Colton. He was my favourite of all the horses because he was big with strong muscles. Then I saw what I really didn’t want to see – horse poop, argghhhh and I nearly stepped in it! Also I saw their food and it didn’t look that tasty. It looked like rotten eggs, not nice at all, but it smelt like lemon grass and the horses loved it. It looked like they hadn’t been fed for days.I turned around and saw a huge, big, fat duck with a blood red face, with emerald wings as well. Next we walked over a brown, dusty old bridge. Then I saw cute and fluffy ducklings with warm wings and white chests. I really thought they would be friendly but it turned out that they were very feisty and temperamental . Then I saw a huge fat cow named Angus, he was really cute and fuzzy. When I looked at the time it was nearly time to go and I didn’t want to. I was really sad because it was so much fun. Sadly I swung into the car and heard a loud shout – it was Zoe! It was a nightmare back to school because Zoe and Hannah were so deafeningly loud.That was the most exciting day that I ever had. I wish I could go back and do it again.By Harmony

​We were on our way, stuck in traffic like quick sand. When we arrived everyone was very excited. First we met some horses. One of them was called Safire, she was a grey colour and very calm. We saw some ducks waddle past us. They were a lovely snow white colour with fluffy feathers.I asked Mrs Pauling if she could take a photo of us. We looked like Zippy Zoe and Happy Harmony sitting on a rusty, old, cardboard brown tractor. After we got off the tractor we went to meet Patricia the pig. She was a hard, hairy, black and white, warm pig. Her personality was like a playful cat with a ball of wool. Next to Patricia’s home lived the birds. My favourite was this very nice smoky grey colour with Valencia orange rings around its eyes. We were told that bird bites.It was a delightful trip. Thank you for showing us around Katie.​By Zoe

​Walnut RanchI was so bored because we were stuck in slow traffic. I was excited because we were going to see some fluffy animals. We didn’t need this! We were on our way to Walnut Ranch. When we finally got there we went around and saw the animals. We saw snowy grey horses, spotty black and tan pigs, black and blue pukeko, dark and chocolate guinea pig. The guinea pig was as small as my lunch box, and was squealing because he was taken from his cage when he was hungry. He was very soft and warm but he squirmed and almost escaped over my shoulder. The geese were very loud like an air horn honking. They were white and they were instantly gobbling up their food when it was put down for them. We went on the swing it was very annoying because it felt like Zoe was hogging it and it took ages for my turn. Finally I had a turn on the swing. It felt like I was gently flying as it went over the shallow trench and back again. I didn’t want to get off because I was happy and excited.On the way back to school the car was noisy because Hannah and Zoe were talking and chattering to each other. I was very sad because I wanted to stay. I would love to go again.By Hannah

Most of you will be aware that pupils in Rooms 3 – 5 take part in a Maths Interchange programme. We have been doing this successfully for a number of years.

Interchange involves looking at all the pupil’s Maths Stages and grouping them accordingly. This means that children who are at the same/similar Maths stage work together at a pace which is more intensive and more productive than working in a class where there may be 3, 4 or 5 different Maths stages.

To ensure that we group the children correctly we use the latest up-to-date Maths attainment data provided by our Overall Teacher Judgements (OTJs), and assessments. We review this data each term. This enables us to move children between classes if appropriate, ensuring that the child’s learning needs are being met.

At the beginning of Term 2 there will be 4 class teachers able to offer Maths interchange :

Mr. Freeman,Mrs. WilsonMrs. CrossleyMrs. Powell

This puts us in a luxurious position of offering four Maths classes with smaller numbers of children in each. Please note that your child may have a different Maths teacher than he/she had in Term 1. Please be assured that your child is with his/her correct Maths grouping and that his/her Maths needs will be met.

Should you have any concerns or wish to discuss this further please do not hesitate to talk with either myself or your child’s class teacher.